Yes, I have another Brain to Books Cyber Convention author
feature (and haven't they been wonderful so far). Remember, this great event for authors and readers alike is coming to
Goodreads this April, on the 8th, 9th and 10th.
Be sure to check out all the
details and pertinent links for the event here:
Now on with the main event, our Brain
to Books author feature.
Today I have a terrific interview with suspense and horror author Adan Ramie.
Interview With Adan Ramie
Why don’t you begin by sharing a
little about yourself.
Anyone who knows me well can tell
you this simple truth about me: I have a big mouth. I got started reading and
writing early in life, and both have served as escapes – and funnels for my
need to constantly communicate - for as long as I can remember.
You write in several genres. Do
you have a favourite? And if so, why?
The first stories that caught my
attention were horror stories, and I still write a lot of those now, but I’ve
also branched out into a dozen other genres, including more speculative fiction
types, dark comedy, and even romance. People have asked if I will ever narrow
my focus, and I always say the same thing: I write what churns inside my head.
If that ever narrows, my writing will follow suit. (But I doubt it.)
What do you enjoy most about writing
in the horror genre?
Horror gives me a place to
exorcise all my demons. If there is anything I’m worried about or afraid of,
you can guarantee it will end up in a creepy tale in one way or another.
Likewise, if I’m angry with someone or something, they’re likely to appear as
an unlikable character who ends up maimed – or worse.
Can you tell us about your
writing process? Where do your ideas originate? Do you have a certain writing
routine?
My writing process changes all
the time. I wish I could say I had one perfect, tried-and-true method for
getting a story out every time I put my fingers on the keys, but I’ve had no
such luck. Sometimes I start from a prompt, as in the case of a lot of the
short fiction I post on my website, and I kind of work my way through it with
blinders on. Other times, as in the case of the book I’ll be releasing in
March, I expand an idea into an outline that I use as the skeleton of the
story.
I do have a writing routine,
though, that I use 4 to 5 days a week. I start with my journal, then get
straight to work on whatever my current project is from there. I won’t do
anything else until I’ve worked on that for at least an hour. It helps keep the
long projects from getting too stagnant, and also guarantees new words every
week.
What do you like to do when
you're not writing? Any hobbies?
I love reading, and I am usually
reading at least one (and up to three) books at any given time. When I’m not
doing that, I’m usually binge-watching true crime, classic movies, and
television shows that have been off the air for a while. I also love food, so I
spend a lot of time searching out new recipes and springing them on my
unsuspecting family.
Do you have a favourite author,
or writing inspiration?
The three authors who inspired me
the most as a young child and teen were R.L. Stine, Stephen King, and Jane
Austen. I know, that’s a kind of a weird combination, but I guess I was a
pretty unusual kid. I read so fast, and so much, that I was finished with my
school library long before I got out of fourth grade; to supplement my reading,
I spent some time in the adult section reading everything I could get my hands
on.
My mother’s romance novels left a
bad taste in my mouth, so the true romance of Jane Austen was a welcome relief.
And, once I was done with everything R.L. Stine had released (Goosebumps was my
favorite series), it was an easy skip ahead to Stephen King. IT scarred me for
life – and turned me into a bona fide horror fanatic.
Could you tell us a bit about
your latest book?
My first novel, Maladaptation, is
the first in my Deviant Behaviors series. It’s a thriller that’s been called
“gritty” and “dark” by reviewers, and it focuses on the lives of three women as
they are drawn together by the twisted forces around and inside them. They have
all three felt the sting of abuse in ways that forged the very unique paths of
their lives, but created a bond that will lead them all down the same road pursued
by – or in pursuit of – a sadistic killer.
Why did you write this book? What
was your inspiration?
It’s funny, but it’s hard to say
what really inspired Maladaptation. It started with a poster of the folk-pop
band Tegan and Sara that got me thinking about abuse, and the different ways
that it can affect a person and change their life for better or for worse. From
there, it progressed into a storyline that I ultimately had to turn on its
head. That first draft (and its six follow-up drafts) only gave about 25% to
the story that was published; the remaining 75% was based on feedback from beta
readers who saw through the mess and helped me bring out the story that really
needed to be told.
What’s your next project? Any
upcoming book secrets you care to reveal?
Right now, I’m finishing up the
sequel to Maladaptation, Cluster B. It follows two characters from
Maladaptation after the final showdown as they try to rebuild their lives and
move on from the traumas they endured. One fun thing that I’m doing as I gear
up for the release of Cluster B is offering a short story that forms the link
between Maladaptation and Cluster B. It’s one of the prizes I’ll be giving away
to ten of my newsletter subscribers before Cluster B is released in March.
Adan Ramie is the genre-stomping author of hundreds of published stories and even more that have yet to be released. She lives with her amazing, supportive, crazy family in a small town in Texas that is not unlike Andy Griffith's Mayberry. You can find her online at AdanRamie.com, where she posts fiction, book reviews, and anything else that strikes her fancy.
Her book, Maladaptation, can be found on Amazon
I'd like to thank Adan Ramie for stopping by today, and be sure to check out her virtual booth at the convention this April.
No comments:
Post a Comment